“I regard the theater as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”

Families,

Please join me for our second Town Hall of the year on Tuesday, March 24 8:45 am - 10:00 am in Mod 3 at the Upper School.

I will share updates, highlights and reflections from the current school year, an update on the Head of School search process, as well as where things stand with campus planning. We’ll also talk about the importance of re-enrollment and community engagement as we continue strengthening TEA for the future.

Several members of the Board will join me to provide updates and answer questions, and we will reserve ample time for open Q&A so families can ask what’s on their minds.

Families are welcome to attend in person in Mod 3 in the Upper School or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 849 9042 3160). 

The meeting will also be recorded for those who cannot join live.

We hope you’ll take part in this important conversation as we continue working together to support our students and our community.

These gatherings are an important opportunity for us to share what’s happening behind the scenes at our school, and gather input, feedback and participation. 

I hope you can join us!

– Christopher Barnes, Interim Head of School

Please join us for James and the Giant Peach, JR., a beautiful telling of finding family and belonging in the most unusual of places. Our heartfelt production features students from 2nd through 11th grade, both on stage and behind the scenes.

What I love about theater is that it nurtures confidence, creativity, and collaboration while giving students a place to belong, just like TEA. From learning lines and choreography to building sets, managing lights, and supporting one another, our students gain invaluable skills that extend far beyond the stage. 

The arts give students the opportunity to take risks, discover their voices, and grow as leaders and teammates. In the four years of running this program, I continue to be blown away by the impact theater has on students of all ages, providing them a space to be vulnerable and take risks, surrounded by support.

Your support helps cultivate the next generation of storytellers, leaders, and artists in our community. It truly takes a village to bring a production like this to life, and we are so grateful for the incredible dedication of the teachers, students, families, and volunteers who have been working tirelessly these past few months.

Please come celebrate their hard work and help us bring this “fan-tas-ma-rific” and “remark-u-lous” story to life. We can’t wait to share the magic with you.

Performances: Wednesday, April 1 & Thursday, April 2

RSVP: HERE for April 1 or HERE for April 2

Doors Open: 6:00 PM

Showtime: 6:30 PM

We look forward to seeing you there! 🎭

– Beth Gamboa, TEA Players Director

This is a friendly reminder: enrollment agreements for next school year are due this Wednesday, March 18th!

This helps us confirm your child’s spot and start planning class rosters. Please reach out to the Admissions Team if you are having issues logging in.

We are so grateful for your trust and for being such an important part of our school community!

Click here to access your Finalsite Login.

– Ally Chase, Interim Admissions & Marketing Director

Earlier this month, CNISSF State Ski Championships ran in blustery conditions at Sugar Bowl with hundreds of top high school skiers. Our qualifying ski athletes included Caylin Garnett (10th), McKenna Buckley (12th) and Naia Renn (10th) in the female division and Barett Mason (12th), Ram Dilibero Selden (9th) and Hudson Feldstein (10th). 

Each skier put forth their best effort in the Giant Slalom on a tough, steep, and at times rutted course, with cold temperatures and snow showers creating low visibility. The following day, athletes battled an icy Slalom course and stiff winds, with the competition called off after just one run rather than the usual two.

Congratulations to seniors Barett Mason for earning 3rd in California in Giant Slalom, and McKenna Buckley who earned 4th in California in GS and 5th in Slalom!

– Eric Martin, Athletics and Activities Director

The TEA Gala is more than a celebration—it’s a powerful opportunity for our community to come together in support of the school we love. When you attend the Grit & Glamour Gala, you will:

Spend an evening with fellow parents, faculty, alumni, and friends of TEA while honoring the people who make our school extraordinary. Enjoy incredible food, specialty cocktails, unique entertainment, and exciting auction experiences—all set against the stunning backdrop of Tahoe.

Your participation directly funds faculty excellence, financial aid, fieldwork, and the programs that allow TEA students to tackle real-world challenges.

Every ticket purchased and every paddle raised helps ensure that TEA students continue to develop the resilience, curiosity, and leadership our world needs.

Tickets will go on sale 3/23. For more information on discounted room rates and sponsorship opportunities, visit our website. 

– Courtenay Wallpe, Director of Development

This is a friendly reminder for our Upper School families that Pizza Day is next Thursday, March 26. Please have those pizza orders in by Wednesday, March 25 at noon.   

We are also still in need of volunteers to keep library browsing sessions running smoothly. In-class Library Lessons are also back this year, and we’re hoping to launch an open library time during lunch.

If you’d like to get involved, please reach out to Ann Zimmerman at tealibrary@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org.

We are proud to celebrate our Interim Head of School Christopher Barnes, who was recently honored with the Far Horizons Award from the Cruising Club of America, one of the premier recognitions in offshore sailing. Christopher and his wife Molly received the 2025 award in recognition of their extraordinary sailing achievements and adventurous spirit on the open sea.

The honor recognizes a remarkable three-year, 36,000 nautical mile voyage the Barnes family undertook from 2013 to 2016. Sailing aboard their Boréal 47, Christopher and Molly circumnavigated South America, rounded Cape Horn, and explored some of the world’s most remote waters, including Easter Island, South Georgia Island in the sub-Antarctic Ocean, Arctic Norway, and a winter crossing of the Bay of Biscay. Along the way, their two sons, Porter and Rabbit, just 10 and 9 years old at the time, served as full crew members, learning everything from sail trimming to celestial navigation.

For the Barnes family, the voyage was not just about adventure but about learning, responsibility, and shared purpose. As their sons grew more confident sailors, they took on increasing responsibilities aboard the boat, becoming a cohesive crew navigating some of the most challenging waters in the world together.

Christopher’s leadership at TEA reflects the same spirit that guided that remarkable voyage: curiosity, resilience, and the belief that the most meaningful learning often happens beyond the edge of comfort.

Congratulations, Christopher! We are grateful to have such an adventurous and thoughtful leader guiding our CommuniTEA.

Have Hawk News feedback? Please let us know here.